The group enters a department store and sit in front of consumer objects like huge televisions. They bow down and worship them. They go to the people working in the shop and thank them for providing these consumer goods for them to buy

Christmas Liberation Front

The group dressed as Father Christmas/Santa Claus read a press release statement in front of a department store.

It says that they are going to punish the shop for putting up their Christmas displays a long way before Christmas as this creates a great pressure on parents and others to buy more and this consumerism is not healthy for individuals or the planet.

The Santas go into the shop, take things off the shelves and put them in their sacks. They are singing songs.

Criteria for successful street theatre:

Immediately understandable

Simple, clear, easily readable (if written) props

Is not threatening to audience

Welcomes audience in to look

Is moving slowly to reach more people

Does not criticise potential audience

Engages audience in a quick and easy activity, if they wish to take part

Makes a clearly understandable and interesting picture for the media

Props are easily made

Props are light and small or foldable so they are easy to carry on public transport

Makes people laugh

Can be done with minimum numbers of people - one or two - and can add others into it

Has supporting roles for members of the group who don't want to do the actual street theatre

Can go on for a long time (repeating)

Is clear about the risks of arrest, what charges could be brought (if any) and recognises that fewer people will take part if this is an arrestable offence.

Dealing with the media

If it is probably going to be cut short by arrest it needs to make enough impact to get media attention.

There is a well written statement to give to the press before, during or afterwards depending on the activity.

You have tipped off the press that something will happen.

P.S.

In fact, Trial Vote was very successful. The audience formed two layers, those who got involved as the jury and people who watched from a distance but got an immediate glimpse of the concept.

Consumer Zombies was a flop. People didn't stop, or felt insulted, or tried to get the actors to come out of role. The audience couldn't hear the actors as they were facing away from them. A later, simplified version, worked much better.

Christmas Liberation Front, people didn't understand as they could only see a part of the 'performance'. If they were outside they just heard a largely inaudible speech. If they were inside the shops they just saw shoplifters in fancy dress.

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